November 23, 2017
I think that quite often, like when I can’t remember why I walked into a room, when I can’t remember where I left my cell phone, when I can’t remember what I was supposed to be doing even though I just thought about doing it two seconds ago! As we get older, our mind seems to lose its edge making it harder to learn and remember.
But there are things we can do to keep our brains healthy and functioning at its peak. Diet is one very important key to how well our brain works. By eliminating certain foods such as excess amounts of refined sugar, refined grains, GMO’s, and artificial trans-fats, and increasing our intake of fresh organic greens, berries, lean meats, and healthy oils and spices, we give our brain the nourishment it needs to perform at its optimal level.
In my series on feeding the brain I plan to cover some of the top “superfoods” that are champions in keeping the brain healthy, improving our mental clarity, cognition and memory. And since I love to cook, I’ll share some of my favourite recipes for each.
We’ll start with my favourite superfood. Chocolate! Well, not just any chocolate, but raw cacao. Cacao is made by cold pressing, which keeps the living enzymes that contain all the health benefits. Cacao contains nearly 20 times the antioxidant power of blueberries and is a great source of protein, calcium, magnesium, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, and sulfur. It also contains serotonin and tryptophan that raise the endorphin levels in our brain, increasing the feeling of well-being, and happiness. Cacao also supports the circulatory system, helping our blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the areas of the brain involved in learning and memory.
These brownies are a favourite of my daughter’s and of mine, especially because of all the healthy ingredients. They not only contain Cacao, but other beneficial ingredients such as coconut oil, one of the superfoods we’ll discuss in a later blog, cinnamon, a rich antioxidant that helps maintain blood sugar levels, and legumes, a good source of vegetable protein.
Mexican Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 Can (15 oz) Black Beans, thoroughly rinsed and drained (I used organic)
- 1/2 Cup Applesauce (I used unsweetened organic)
- 3 Tbs Coconut Oil, melted (I used organic unrefined)
- 1 Tsp vanilla
- 1/2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats (I used organic)
- 1 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1/8 Tsp salt (I used Himalayan Sea Salt)
- 1/2 cup Raw Cacao (I used organic)
- 1/2 cup Dark Chocolate chopped into small pieces (save some out for topping)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8×8 glass baking dish.
- Combine all ingredients, except the chocolate pieces in a food processor and process until thoroughly blended. Fold in the chocolate pieces by hand.
- Pour mixture into baking dish and top with extra dark chocolate pieces.
- Bake for 20 – 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
